MORE THAN 50 CON­TRAC­TORS

More than 50 con­trac­tors from West­ern Kenya yes­ter­day stormed the Kenya Power Com­pany of­fices in Kisumu over the death of a con­trac­tor. They said Leonard Wan­jiri, 60, died due to frus­tra­tion and in­tim­i­da­tion by KP man­age­ment security per­son­nel. They say Wan­jiri col­lapsed and died at the of­fices af­ter he was ha­rassed by po­lice of­fi­cers at the firm. They said they were called to col­lect his body. But his fam­ily said he re­turned home from the KP of­fices ill and was rushed to hospi­tal on Wed­nes­day night. He died at 2am yes­ter­day, his son Barack Owino said. He said he had high blood pres­sure. But the con­trac­tors, led by Mau­rice Otieno and Mag­da­lene Adongo, ac­cused Kenya Power man­age­ment and called for speedy in­ves­ti­ga­tions. They also com­plained of ar­bi­trary ar­rests and said KP of­fi­cials and po­lice of­fi­cers ask for Sh50,000 to Sh100,000 bribes to re­lease their work­ers. West­ern re­gional man­ager Dan Obiero said they are in­ves­ti­gat­ing the allegations and will make a re­port. He said some con­trac­tors sell ma­te­ri­als the com­pany gives them, prompt­ing their ar­rest.